Can end marking means



A. L. KRONQUEST 2,406,151

D MARKING MEANS Dec. '1, 1940 CAN EN v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2' Original FiledNQEQTOR. w

Aug. 20, 1946.

A. L. KRONQUEST CAN END MARKlNGuMEANs ori inal Filed Dec. '7, 1940 4sheets-Sheet s Aug. 20, 1946. A. L. KRONQUEST CAN END MARKING MEANSOriginal Filed Dec. 7, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 20, 1946 canEND MARKINGMEANS' Alfred L. Kronquest, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor toContinental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Original application December 7, 1940, Serial No.

11 this application Novem- 369,110. Divided an ber24, 1943, Serial No.

- 8 Claims. 1 e

The invention relatesto marking means and primarily seeks to provide anovel and efficiently operable heavy duty marking means capable ofembossing suitable identifying markings on can ends or closures as theyare being rapidly moved from a supply stack into position for beingassembled with cans to be closed in a closing machine.

Marking means employing opposed male and female marking dies engageablewithcan end closures for applying identifying markings there on havebeen provided heretofore, but the use of such means has been attended bydisadvantages and problems have been presented by reason of certainlimitations upon the speed of use thereof, inability to successfullycope with operation strains incident to heavy duty marking or markingsinwhich more than the customary line or two of embossed letters areincluded, and lack of proper adjustability of the opposed relation ofthe marking dies. The present invention seeks to provide a novel markingmeans which will overcomethese disadvatages and limitations,

and the present application constitutes-a division of my former co-pending application for U. S.

. Letters Patent, filed December '7, 1940, Serial No.

369,110, which eventuated into Patent 2,362,206 on November 7, 1944.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel marking means of thecharacter stated in which the male and female die elements oppose by amovementof rotation, and in which novel means is provided for adjustingthe spaced relation of the die elements so as to regulate the pressureof said elements against the metal of the end closures being marked.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel marking means ofthe character stated in which the adjustment of the spacing of the dieelements is effected by movement of an eccentric sleeve about the axisof one of the rotary elements, and in which means is provided forjustifying slight misalignments of the male and female dieelementsoccasioned by adjustments of said sleeve.

With the above and other objects in view which will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more fully understood by followingthe description, the appended claims and the several views illustratedin the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the marking means and a part of theclosing machine on which said means is adjustably mounted.-

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional View of the marking means takensubstantially 0n1the line 2-2 on Figure 1.

Figure 3 is ahorizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line3-3 on Figure 2.

Figure-4 is an enlargedend elevation illustrating the opposed.- markingelements and; their carrying shafts. 3 I Figure 5 is an enlargedfragmentary "vertical cross-sectional view through the adjustablemountin of the upper marking element.

The improved container end closure marking mechanism is hereinillustrated as verticallyadjustably mounted on a container closingmachine which may be of any suitable form including a frame structuregenerally designated 5 on which is mounted a six station closing'turret6 to which filled containers I and end closures 8 therefor are fed by apocketed feed turret 9. The feed turret 9 includes seats ID forreceiving and positioning the end closures 8 in proper relation abovethe containers! which are fed one by one intothe pockets of the turret9by any suitable containerv feed-in'means generally designated II. Theend closures are suitably marked while they vare being moved from'asupply stack toward the receiving seats ID of the turret 9, and it isthe purpose of the present invention to provide a novel markingmechanism particularly'adapted to heavy duty marking of the end closureswith all over markings as distinguished from the usual one or two linemarking customarily applied.

The frame 5 includes a mounting pad 12 and a marking meansmountingbracket extension l3. The frame also includes a casing and bearingextension M equipped with a vertical shaft bearing IS, a vertical shaftbearing It, a vertical shaft bearing l1, and a horizontal shaft bearingl8.

A sleeve I9 is rotatably mounted in the bearing !5 and carries a gear 20which meshes with and is driven by a gear 2| to which rotation isimparted from a moving part of the closing machine. A spline shaft 22passes vertically through thesleeve l9 thereby being connected forrota-- ig [6. A. spline shaft 2E5 is rotatable with and f illustrated inFigure 2 of the drawings. I gear 29 is fixed to the lower end of thesleeve '21- i 3 vertically slidable through the sleeve '25 and gear 24,and the purpose of this shaft 26 and the spline shaft 22 and thevertically adjustable nature thereof will later be described.

A sleeve 21 is rotatably mounted in the ver'- tical bearing l1 and has ascrew column 28 threadably mounted therein in the manner best:

and meshes with a bevel gear 30 fixed on a shaft hereinabove andincludin the feeding finger A bevel:

rotatable in the horizontal bearin l8 and which is equipped at its outerend with a handlwheel 3|. It wil1 be obvious by reference to Figure '2of the drawings that by rotating the hand Wheel 3|, vertical movementcan the impartedto the;

screw column 23 upwardly or downwardly .7

4. The rotary closure feeding devices described extensions 52 whichsweep relatively rapidly past the closure supply station and relativelyslowly while passing the place at which the marked closures aredeposited on the traveling receiving and supporting means are covered inthe'parent application hereinbefor referred to and no claims aredirected to these devices in this aplication.

Ihe. adjustable marking devices which form the subject matter of thisdivisional case will now be described.

through the captive sleeve 21 according to the."

" direction of rotation imparted to said hand wheel. 7

A A bracket plate 32 is vertically-adjustably se-- cured t'o-themounting pad 12 byslot and screw equipments 33, and this bracket'plateincludes a flange portion 34 to which is affixed a supporting table orplate 35 which overlies the feed-in turret 9 of the closing machine andis equipped with end closure guideways 36 over which end 3 closuresare'conveyed from a supply, through the a The bracket plate 32 carries abracket extension 54 which is equipped with a mounting pad portion 55againstwhich a. bracket hanger 56 v is vertically-adjustably securedthrough the medium of longitudinal slot and screw equipments 51. Theextension 54 also includes an overhangceiving guide'ways' 36 benaththesupply or stack. 3

v See Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings.

The table or plate'35 also supports a depend- 1 ing housing 33 whichisequipped with a bearing 40 vertically aligned with; the bearing l5 andl which has a sleev e 4| secured therein in the 3 manner-bestillustrated inQFigure 2 of the',drawin-gs. The sleeve 4| is of a lengthfor extending I vertically above the bearing 40 and has its upper endprovided with a rim gear: portion 42, the purpose ofwhich willlaterbecome apparent.

The spline shaft 22 extends upwardly through thebearing'4llfand sleeve4| and has keyed thereon' a rotor :43 supl Qrted on anti frietionbearings 44 surmounting the sleeve 4|. Four shafts 45 are rotatablymounted in equidistantly spaced 7 frelation in the rotor 43 and each ofthese shafts carries a gear 46 at its lower end enmeshed with the rimgear portion 42 of the sleeve 4|. It will be obvious that as the rotor43 rotateslabout the stationary sleeve 4| the rim gear portion.42 of thesleeve will'impart rotation to the gears 46 and the shafts 45 on whichthey are mounted.

V At its upper end each shaft 45 carries a head 41 equipped with anoff-center crank roller 48, and each roller engages in a radial recess49 in the under surface of an end closure feeding fignger 53 pivotallymounted, as at 5|, inwardly of the axis or the associated shaft 45 inthemanner best'illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. I Eachofithe feeder members 50 is equipped with a feeding finger extension 52which projects in a generally radial direction to a point centrallydisposed between the spaced guides 35 upon which end closures aresupported while being moved along by said finger extensions. Themarkingstation'through which the end closures are moved by said fingerextensions isge'nerally designated 53 in Figure 3 of the drawings.

of the upper marker shaft 15.

ing lug '58and an adjusting screw 59 threaded through the lug inposition for engaging the bracket hanger 56 for'i' parting movementsofadjustments thereto relative toth'e bracket plate 32 and its extension54, 55. V v r A marker body 60 is secured as at 6| to depend from thehanger bracket 56 and has mounting pad portions 62 which are verticallyadjustably secured-tothje bracketextension I3 through the medium oflongitudinal slot andscrew e u ments63. I f t I The 'supporting'body' 60of the marking me h:

anismcarries a depending extension '64 having a horizontal bearing 65formed therein [for a rotary shaft 66 which carriesa spur gear 61 at oneend and a bevel gear 68 at its other end.

The bevel gear 68 meshes with and is driven by a bevel gear 69 securedupon the upper end of the vertically-adjustable spline shaft 26.

The spur gear 61 meshes with a spur gear 10 secured upon the lowermarker shaft 1| rotatably mounted in the bearing 12 provided therefor inthe marker bodyQBfl, and the gear 10 in turn mesheswith and-drives aspurgear 13 which loosely surrounds a sleeve 14 keyed upon the uppermarke'r'shaftj15. W 1' A The'upper marker shaft 151's rotatable in aneccentric sleeve bearing16 which is rotatably supported in the markerbodytfl in the manner best illustrated inFigures 2 and 501 the drawings.

v The sleeve 14 carries a lug extension ,11 having a longitudinal recess18 therein for receiving the projected end of a pin 19' carried by thespur gear 13. The portion of the .pin 19 which projects into thelongitudinal recess 18 is engaged at opposite sides byrjustifyingscrews. 80. See Figures 2 and 5. It will also be noted by reference tothese figures that the sleeve lfi is provided with a worm gear surface8| which is engaged by anadjusting screw 82 having a turning head 83. Byrotating the screw 82 in one direction or the other the eccentricbearing sleeve 16 can be rotated in one direction or the other foraltering the position of the' axis of rotation By this means the spacedv relation of the marker shafts 1| and 15 can be varied for the'purposeof adjusting to a nicety the cooperative relation of the mark-l ingelements or dies carried by said shafts.

i Each of the marker shafts 1| and 15 includes a reduced end 84extending beyond the marker body 60 and having a seating face 85 againstwhich a die block 86 is secured. The die blocks 86 carry theusual maleand female die elements 1 81 and are removably' clamped in position onthe shaft extensions by having their stems 88 passed, through transversebores 89 in the shaft extensions and secured therein by screw equipments90. While the die blocks are shown as equipped with the usual simpleform of co-acting male and female elements in Figures 2 and 4 of thedrawings, it is to be understood that the present marker is particularlyadaptable to use in heavy duty marking wherein the marking dies areequipped to mark the end closures over the whole or a major portion ofthe surfaces thereof, including curved line embossing which demandsprecise interengagement of the male and female embossing elements. Theopposed male and female die elements engage .in rolling contact duringactual marking of the end closures and this engagement is effectedthrough a suitable opening .9] provided in the plate or table 35 in themannerv best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. 3

The intermeshing gears 61, and 13 are preferably protected by aremovable cover 92 attached. to the marker body 60 and its dependingextension 64 in the manner clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of thedrawings.

It will be observed that the upper end ofthe screw column 28 is securedas at 93 to the marker body 60, 64 Thus by loosening the clamping orsecuring screws 33 and 63 and by rotating the hand wheel 31, upward ordownward movement can be impartedv to the screw column 28, the markerbody 60, '64, the hanger bracket 56, the bracket extension '54, thebracket plate 32, the plate or table 35, and the end closure stack orfeed 38 and the depending housing 39 supported by said plate. It will beobvious that spline shafts 22 and 26' will move vertically with thewould upset the perfect registering relation of the male and femaleembossing die elements were it not for the provision. of the justifyingscrew equipments 80 illustrated in Figures 2 and 5 of the drawings.After each adjustment of the eccentric sleeve I6 the screw adjustments8.0 are-utilized to adjust the gears H! and 13 relative to the shaft15,. thereby to restore Perfect registering relation of the male andfemale die elements.

The marking equipment .as herein described is cap-able of being operatedat great speed in parts just mentioned without disrupting the.

power transmitting connections to the marking parts or to the endclosure feeding devices.

In operation, as the end closures are discharged one by one from thecover feeding means 38 onto the receiving trackways 36 they are engagedby the feeding finger extensions 52 and moved along said guideways. Thecompound movement imparted to the finger extensions 52 by simplerotation of the rotor 43 and the relative rotation of the heads 41 andthe rollers 48 causethe fingers to have one rapid sweep movement and oneretarded movement during each rotation of the rotor 43. It will beobserved byreference to Figure 3 of the drawings that the markingstation 53 is so related to the position 31 at which the marked endclosures are deposited on the turret seats ['0 that each finger 52 movesan end closure through the marking station during a part of its rapidsweep movement, and moves the marked end closure into position at 31 forbeing received on the respective turret seat If! during a part of itsretarded or slow sweep movement. While each end closure is being movedpast the marking station 53 it is engaged in rolling contact by theopposed male and female die elements 81 and suitably embossed.

When it is desired to adjust the spaced relation of the shafts and themarking dies carried thereby, this can be accomplished with greatfacility by turning the eccentric sleeve 16. Whenever the screw andeccentric sleeve equipments 82, I6 are adjusted to vary the spacedrelation of the shafts 'H and I5, and therefore the cooperative relationof the marking dies, movement of the eccentric sleeve '16 about its axisserves not only to lift or lower the axis of the shaft 15, but also tomove the axis of that shaft laterally. This lateral movement of theshaft marking and has a capacity for making heavy impressions withrotary die elements which may cover the whole can'end with embossing;instead of the usual one or two lines of characters. .It will also beobvious that the marking equipment and the end closure feeding devicescan be; :adjusted upwardly or downwardly as. a whole order to adapt'theclosing machine for closing containers of different heights. It isxalsopossible to utilize the adjusting equipments 51, 59 for adjusting themarker parts andthe end closure feeding parts relatively to accuratelyadjust the cooperative relation of these parts.

It is of course to be understood that the details of structure andarrangement of parts may be variously changed and modified without de-.parting from the spirit and scope of the invention. I

I claim:

1. In can endclosure marking means, a pair of rotary shafts disposed inparallel spaced relation andconnected by intermeshing gears of likediameter mounted thereon, means providing a bearing for each shaft, saidlast named means including a bearing bore and an eccentric sleevesurrounding one said shaft as a bearing sleeve and having rotary bearingcontact in said bearing bore and being adjustable about said one shaftfor altering the spaced relation of the shafts, a worm gear portion onsaid sleeve intermediately of the ends thereof, a captive screw engagingsaid worm gear portion for imparting movements of adjustment to saidsleeve, and

closures passed between said elements. a

.2. In can end closure marking means, a pair of rotary shafts disposedin parallel spaced relation and connected by intermeshing gears of likediameter mounted thereon, means providing a bearing for each shaft, saidlast named means including an eccentric sleeve surrounding one saidshaft as a bearing sleeve and having rotary bearing contact in saidbearing means and being adjustable about said one shaft for altering thespaced relation of the shafts, means for imparting movement ofadjustment to said sleeve, male and female marking die elements. carriedby the shafts and opposed for engaging in rolling contact with endclosures passed between said elements, the gear on the eccentric sleevesurrounded shaft being mounted for movement of adjustment about the axisof and relative to said sleeve surrounded shaft, and justifyingmeans foradjusting the adjustably mounted gear on the eccentric sleeve surroundedshaft relative to said sleeve surrounded shaft following adjustments ofthe sleeve for restoring the 1 desired accuratealignmentof said male andfemale die elements.

'3. In can end closure marking means, a pair ing adjustable about saidone shaft for altering w the spaced relation of the shafts, means forim- I parting movement of adjustment to said sleeve,- 'male and femalemarking die elements carried by 1' the shafts and opposed for engagingin rolling 7 sleeve surrounding one saidshaft as a bearing sleeve andhaving rotary bearing contact in said bearing means and being adjustableabout said one shaft for altering the spaced relation of the shafts,means for'imparting movement ofadjustment to said sleeve, an adjustersleeve fixed to the eccentric sleeve surrounded shaft and having a lugextension with a'longitudinal recess therein, a-gear loosely'mounted onsaid adjuster sleeve and having a pin projecting-therefrom into saidrecess, a gear of like size secured to the other shaft and meshing withthe first 4. In can end closure marking means, a pair of rotary shaftsdis posed in parallel spaced relation' and connectedby intermeshinggears of I like diameter mounted thereon, means providing bearing foreach shaft, said last named m eans including an eccentric sleevesurrounding one said shaft as a bearing sleeve and having rotary bearingcontact in said bearing means and being adjustable about said one shaftfor altering the spaced relation of thefshafts, means for impartingmovement'o'f adjustment to said sleeve,, male and female marking dieelements carried by the shafts and opposed for engaging in rollingcontact with endclos'ures passed between said elements, and means forimparting movement about its axis to one shaft relative to the othershaft to restore perfect registry of the marking die elements after anadjustment of the eccentric sleeve has been effected.

:5. In can end closure marking means, a pair I of rotary shafts disposedin parallel spaced relation and connected by intermeshing gears of 7like diameter mounted thereon, means providing bearing for each shaft,said last named means 1 including an eccentric sleeve surrounding onesaid shaft as a bearing sleeve and having rotary bearing contact in saidbearing means and becontacttwithend closures passed between said jelements, one said gear loosely surrounding the shaft on which it ismounted, and means causing said loosely mounted gear and the shaft itsurrounds to move in unison, said last named means being adjustable toimpart relative movement 1 between the loosely mounted gear and theshaft it surrounds for justifying the registry of the marking; dieelements following adjustments of the eccentric sleeve. 7 7

6.. In can end closure marking means, a pair of rotaryshafts 'disposedin parallel spaced relation and connected by intermeshing gears of jlikediameter mounted thereon, means providing bearing for each shaft, saidlast named means lincluding an eccentric sleeve surrounding one saidshaft as a bearing sleeve and having rotary fbearingcont'act in saidbearing means and being adjustable about said one shaft for altering thespaced relation of the shafts,'means for'im parting movement ofadjustment to said sleeve, male and female marking die elements carriedby the shafts and opposed for engaging in rolling contact with endclosures passed between said element, one said gear loosely surroundingthe shaft on which it is mounted, and means causing said loosely mountedgear and the shaft it surroundsto move in unison, said last named meanscomprising a sleeve fixed to the loose gear surrounded shaft and-havinga radially "projected lug equipped with an elongated slot, said loosegear having a projection extending into said slot, and adjuster screwmeans for adjust ably fixing the position of said gear projection insaid slot thereby to restore the desired accurate alignment of said maleand female marking elements following adjustments of the eccentricsleeve.

7. In can end closure marking means, a pair of rotary shafts disposedin" parallel spaced relation and connected by intermeshing gears of likediameter mounted thereon, means providing bearing for each shaft, saidlast named means including an eccentric sleeve surrounding one saidshaft as a bearing sleeve and having rotary bearing contact in saidbearing means and being adjustable about said one shaft for alteringthespaced relation of the shafts, means for.impart-. ing movement ofadjustment to said sleeve, male and female marking die elements carriedby the shafts and opposed for engaging in rolling contact with'endclosures passedbetween said .ele ments, one said gear looselysurrounding the shafton which it and the eccentric sleeve are mounted,and means causin said loosely mounted gear and the shaft-it surrounds tomove in unison, said last named means comprising a' sleeve fixed to theloose gear surrounded shaft and having a radially projected lug equippedwith an elongated slot, said loose gear having a projectionextending-into said slot, and adjuster screw meansv for adjustablyfixing the position of said gear projection in said slot, thereby torestore the desired accurate alignment of said male and female markingelements following adjustments of the eccentric sleeve.

, 8. In can end closure marking means, a pair of rotary. shafts disposedin parallel spaced relation and connected by intermeshing gears of Ilike diameter mounted thereon, means providing a bearing for each shaft,said last named means including an eccentric sleeve surround ing onesaid shaft as a bearing sleeve and having rotary bearing contact in saidbearing means and being adjustable about said one shaft for altering thespaced relation of the shafts, means for imparting movement ofadjustment to said sleeve, finale and female marking die ele- "mentscarried by the shafts and opposed for engaging in rolling contact withend closures passed between said elements, said adjustment movementimparting means including a worm gear portion on said sleeveintermediatelyof the ends thereof, a' captive screwengaging said wormgear portion for imparting movements of adjustment to said sleeve, andjustifying means for adjusting the gear on the eccentric sleevesurrounded shaft relative to said surrounded shaft following adjustmentsof the sleeve for restoring the desired accurate alignment of said maleand female die elements.

ALFRED L. KRONQUEST.

